Intubation stylets

Abstract

A stylet for use in intubating an endotracheal tube, catheter or like medico-surgical tube comprises a bendable metal rod hermetically sealed in a tubular plastic sheath so the rod is closely encircled by the sheath, but so the two can flex longitudinally independently of each other. The ends of the sheath are molded in a smoothly rounded closed shape and it has a frosted finish on its external surface.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A stylet for use in intubating an endotracheal tube comprising: a metal rod having a distal end and a proximal end, said rod being capable of being bent into a desired configuration and remaining in such configuration,   a loop in said rod at the proximal end thereof,   a tubular sheath of flexible waterproof, nonfibrous plastic material encasing said rod, said sheath having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of said rod, said rod being moveable relative to said sheath,   said sheath being slightly longer than said rod,   the ends of the sheath being molded in a smoothly rounded, closed shape hermetically sealing the rod within the sheath, and   a frosted finish on the external surface of said sheath.   
     
     
       2. The intubating stylet of claim 1 wherein said tubular sheath is made of plasticized polyvinyl chloride resin having a Shore A durometer of between about 70 to 85. 
     
     
       3. The intubating stylet of claim 1 wherein said metal rod is formed of aluminum metal. 
     
     
       4. The intubating stylet of claim 3 wherein said aluminum is type 1100-0.